Page 127 of Crossing Lines

“That’s not being prepared,” Stella says. “Your purse is like a portal to another dimension.”

Aria chuckles, but then glances at Elodie. “So? Do you want to do it?”

“Oh, fuck it, yes, I want to know,” she says. “But we all can’t go, that’ll be too obvious.”

“Like hell we aren’t,” I say. “I need to know if I’m going to be an aunt. Quick, let’s run to the house.”

“Like that’s not obvious at all,” Aria says, laughing.

“That’s the point,” I say. “They’ll be all left stupefied, wondering what we’re doing, and while they’re debating, we can get ananswer.”

Elodie giggles. “Okay, on three.”

“Wait,” Stella says. “Do you mean one-two-three and then go or go on three?”

“Go on three,” Elodie says. “One, two, three!”

We all take off, our heels periodically sinking into the grass like they’re trying to take root. Giggling and clinging to each other for balance, we make a chaotic dash toward the rustic house. Once inside, Aria leads us to the master bathroom. I have no idea how she knows where it is, but I’m happy to follow.

Stella slams the door shut and locks us inside. Aria already has the test out and is handing it to Elodie in the next instant. Elodie grabs it and then pauses.

“What if I’m pregnant?” Elodie asks quietly. “I’m not ready to have kids.”

“Whatever happens,” I say, “we’ll be here for you, supporting you every step of the way. And I don’t know about them.” I wave a hand toward Aria and Stella. “But I know I’ll be the coolest aunt in the fucking world.”

“Hey now,” Aria says. “I’d be the coolest aunt out of all of us.”

“Pfft,” Stella says. “I’m the one who can write them into my songs. I’m definitely the one who will hold that title, thank you very much.”

Elodie grins and I nudge her toward the toilet. She sighs and says, “Okay, okay, I’ll take the test.”

We turn our backs to give her privacy and I say, “Try not to pee on the dress.”

“Fuck off,” Elodie says, laughing. “I’m more likely to pee on my hand than on the dress.”

“I dare you,” Aria says to Elodie, “to touch one of the guys on the arm without washing your hands and please make that man Jake.”

“I don’t know what Jake ever did to you.” I glance at Aria. “But I’m here for the pettiness.”

Aria grins, and before she can say anything else, Elodie says, “Done and I’m happy to report that I didn’t pee on my hands or on the dress.” She places the test on the counter. “What do we do now?”

“Wait,” Stella says. “I’ll set a timer for you for three minutes.”

We all look at each other in silence before Elodie paces the length of the bathroom. “Why the hell does three minutes feel like forever and a day? Quick, someone say something to distract me.”

“All right,” I say. “We’ll all say something shocking to distract you, okay?” I shoot Aria and Stella a look and they both nod. “But no one is allowed to comment. Ready, I’ll go first. I cut my mom off for good. I had a powwow with my father’s ex-wife and my half-brother. Oh, and I started therapy to deal with the clusterfuck that is everything.”

Stella and Aria stare at me with their mouths agape, and Elodie looks at me with pride shining in her eyes.

“Okay,” Stella says slowly. “That wasa lot. Umm…Kai walked in on me masturbating and now I can never look at him in the eye ever again.”

Now it’s our turn to face her with shocked expressions on our faces.

“Nope, no comments,” Stella says, crossing her arms. “That’s the rule. Aria, quick say yours to distract everyone.”

“I’m pretty sure,” Aria says, “that my parents are talking about an arranged marriage for me, and nope, we’re not going to talk about that either.”

“Wait,” Elodie says. “Y’all can’t drop those bombs on me without allowing me to ask questions.”

---